KISUMU, Kenya, September 19th –Dr Ali Said Matano has called for urgent and concerted efforts aimed at preserving Lake Victoria’s ecosystem.
The Blue Economy Advisor to Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o, warned that the lakes are dying unless issues such as pollution, siltation and related activities are tackled early enough.
Speaking at the just-concluded inaugural African Smart Cities Alliance (ASCA) Summit under the auspices of the Works Smart Cities Forum (WSCF) in Kisumu, Dr Matano pointed out that the lake has dried up three times in the last 100,000 years.
“Dredging is not a sustainable solution to siltation but proper human activities inland. Issues such as siltation pose a major threat to its ecosystem, given that it is very shallow with a depth of about 80 meters.”
The former Executive Secretary of Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), noted that this contrasts a lot with Lake Tanganyika, which has a depth of 1.2 kilometres, and stressed that this kind of scenario calls for more vigilance around the lake and its ecosystem.
“Things like source and on-source pollution need to be taken very seriously moving forward”, he said while adding that such an episode took place some 18,000 years ago.
The Blue Economy and Transboundary Water Cooperation Independent Consultant further said pressure on the lake needs to be eased via diversification in aquaculture and other fish farming methods.
Dr Matano said that income generated from sustainable socio-economic activities taking place on, in and around the lake involves millions of people around the basin.
“Rainfall (precipitation) accounts for around 80 per cent of water in the lake with the remaining 20 per cent coming from drainage systems and rivers.”
ASCA is a global public-private partnership driving comprehensive development projects across Africa. By fostering collaboration, technology, and sustainable development strategies, ASCA is promoting innovative growth in major cities and rural areas.
It was proposed by the WSCF as an extension of the Global TWIN CITIES Initiative (TCI).
Launched among 25 global cities during the OXYGEN Summit in New York City in 2024, TCI is a collaborative smart city implementation platform.
Five African cities, Casablanca, Dakar, Mombasa, Benguerir, and Konza Technopolis, are currently participating in the TCI.
Dr Matano said most of the waters emanating from the catchment areas are in the form of runoffs.
‘’With a well-managed catchment, he said runoffs will be minimised, hence reduced floods, while infiltration will be increased, ensuring that rivers within the catchment have a regulated water flow,” he said.
Dr Matano disclosed that Outflow is primarily from evaporation, which accounts for 76 percent (less than precipitation), and outflow into the Nile, which accounts for 24 percent (slightly more than what comes in from rivers).
He observed that precipitation (rainfall) is the main driver in determining the water levels in Lake Victoria.
‘”As such the long rainfall spell that we have observed from late last year and this year has contributed to the drastic rise in the water levels,” he said.
